PSA may be used to detect breast cancer

TAOYUAN, Taiwan, July 15 (UPI) -- The prostate-specific antigen blood test for prostate cancer in men may get a second life as a much-needed new test for breast cancer, U.S. researchers say.

Chien Chou of Chang Gung University in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and colleagues say the PSA also is a potential biomarker of breast cancer in women. However, levels of PSA in healthy women are usually so small that only ultrasensitive tests can measure them.

To improve PSA detection in women, the researchers built a tiny fiber-optic biosensor using gold nanoparticles and PSA antibodies to detect and report PSA levels via a fluorescent signal.

The biosensor's sensitivity -- its ability to detect elevated PSA levels in cases of breast cancer -- and its specificity, or how well it avoids false predictions of breast cancer, are comparable to those found in using PSA as a biomarker for prostate cancer.

"Furthermore, these values may compare favorably with the sensitivity and specificity of the current screening methods for breast cancer such as clinical examination … and mammogram," the researchers say in a statement.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.